22. The power of electioun of thame qwha bearis ecclesiasticall
chargis, pertenis to this kynd of assemblie, within thair awin
boundis, being weill erectit, and constitut of mony pastouris and
eldaris of sufficient habilitie.
23. Be Eldarschip is meint, sic as ar constitut of Pastouris,
Doctouris, and sic as now ar callit Eldaris.
24. Be the lyk resone, thair depositioun also pertenis to this
kynd of assembleis, as of thame that teache erroneous and corrupt
doctrine; that be of sclanderous lyfe, and eftir admonitioun,
desist not; that be gevine to schisme or rebellion contrare the
kirk, manifest blasphemy, simony, and all corruptioun of brybis,
falset, periurie, huredome, thift, drunkinnes, fechting, worthie of
punischment be the law; usurie, danshing, infamie, and all utheris
deservine separatioun frome the kirk.
25. These also qwha ar fund altogidder insufficient to exerce thair
chargis, sould be deposit, Quhairof uther kirkis wald be aduertesit,
that thay resaue not personis deposit.
26. Albeit thay aucht not to be deposit quha throw aige, seiknes,
or uther accidents, becum unmeit to do thair office; in quhilk cace
thair honour sould remane unto thame, their kirkis sould mentene
thame, and utheris aucht to be proydit to do thair office.[50]
27. Provinciall assembleis we call, lawfull conventionis of the
pastouris, doctouris, and eldaris of the province, gadderit for the
commoun effairis of the kirkis tharof, quhilk also may be callit the
Conference of kirkis and brethrene.
28. Thir assembleis ar institut for wechtie materis necessar to be
intraitit be mutuall consent and assistance of the brethrene within
the provincis, as neid requyris.*[49]
29. Thir assembleis haif power to handle, ordour, and redres all
thingis ommittit or done amiss in the particular assembleis.*[49]
30. It haith power to depose the office-beraris of that province, for
guid and just caus deserving depriuatioun.*[49]
31. And generallie, thir assembleis haue the haill power of the
particular elderschippis qwhairof thay ar collected.*[49]
32. The nationall assemblie,(quhilk is generall to us,) is ane
lawchfull conventioun of the kirkis of the haill realme or nation,
wher it is usit and gadderit, for the commoun effairis of the Kirk;
and may be callit the Generall Elderschip of the haill kirkis within
the realme.
33. Nane ar subiect to repair to this assemblie to voit, bot
ecclesiasticall personis, to sic ane number as sallbe thocht guid be
the same assemblie; not excluding uther personis that will repair to
the said Assemblie, to propone, heir, and resone.
34. This assemblie is institute, that all thingis ayther omittit,
or done amis in the provinciall assembleis, may be redressit and
handlit: And things generally, seruing for the weill of the haill
body of the kirk in that realme, may be foirsene, intreattit, and set
furth to Goddis glorie.
35. It sould tak cair, that kirkis be planted in places quhair thay
ar not planted.
36. It sould prescryue the reull how the uther twa kynd of assembleis
sould proceid in all thingis.
37. This assemblie sould tak heid, that the spirituall jurisdictioun
and civile be not confoundit, to the hurt of the kirk.